Just like house pets, the animals at OC Zoo need love, affection and toys to keep them happy.

At the zoo, a cardboard box with a treat inside takes the place of chew toys and catnip. The boxes, which may be gift wrapped depending on the season, are placed by zoo officials in the enclosures and left for the animals to tear apart and enjoy.

"It's a way to provide additional stimulation for the animals, much like you'd give your dog or your cat a toy to play with," said Marisa O'Neil, spokeswoman with OC Parks, which oversees the zoo at Irvine Regional Park in Orange. "It's the same kind of thing, but on a larger scale for these animals."

The cardboard boxes are entertainment for all sizes of animals, from the zoo's big cats to the raccoons.

"All the animals like to tear in and have fun," O'Neil said.

On Sunday, the public can bring cardboard boxes in exchange for free admission to the zoo.

This is the first time the zoo has done a box drive, which is part of a series of events related to St. Patrick's Day.

"We were looking for some fun, spring time events to have at our parks. We realized that St. Patrick's Day would be a good opportunity to do some green-themed events," O'Neil said.

Other events include hikes, crafts for kids and cleaning up the park. Go to ocparks.com/zoo for more information.

A mountain lion at the OC Zoo puts his claws to work on a couple of cardboard boxes. COURTESY OF OC ZOO
An ocelot buries its head in a cardboard box looking for treats. Ocelots are primarily found in South and Central America. COURTESY OF OC ZOO

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